Ilocos Region wage board grants pay hike

by Sunstar, October 10, 2016

MORE than 200,000 minimum wage earners in the Ilocos Region are set to get additional pays ranging from P12 to P27 per day starting October 2, according to the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole).

According to the Ilocos Region wage board, they have approved pay hike for all minimum wage earners in the region by issuing Wage Order RB1-18.

“The new wage order will benefit 208,296 workers and employees working in 48,955 micro establishments in the region,” said the Dole.

According to the wage order, workers in large non-agriculture will get pay adjustments from P253 to P280 with P27 increment; medium non-agriculture from P253 and P244 to P266 with P12 and P21 increase; small non-agriculture from P233 to P252 with P19 daily pay hike; and micro non-agriculture from P227 to P243 with P16 increase.

The wage order also adjusts salaries of workers from agriculture plantation from P233 to P252 with P19 increment; agriculture non-plantation from P227 to P243 with a raise of P16; and commercial fishing, from P253 to 280 with P27 difference.

Excluded in the increase are the Kasambahays or Domestic Workers, persons employed in the personal service of another including family drivers, and workers and employees of registered Barangay Micro Business Enterprises (BMBEs) with Certifications of Authority.

The new wage order also provides exemptions to distressed establishments, new business establishments, retail/service establishments employing not more than ten workers, and establishments adversely affected by calamities such as natural and/or human induced disasters.

Meanwhile, household service workers (HSWs) in the Ilocos Region are set to get pays amounting to as much as P3,500.

Also effective last October 2, HSWs in cities and first class municipalities are set to receive P3,500 while those in other municipalities should get at least P2,500 as provided for by Wage Order RB1-DW-01.

“The RTWPB-I decided to adjust the minimum wages of domestic workers after region-wide consultations and public hearings in June and July and to enable them to cope with the rising cost of living,” said Dole.

The wage order marks the first time that the Ilocos region is increasing the minimum pay rates after the Republic Act 10361 or the Kasambahay Law set the monthly minimum wage for domestic workers.

Under RA 10361, the minimum pay for HSWs would be P2,000 for those in cities and first class municipalities outside Metro Manila, and P1,500 in other municipalities outside Metro Manila.

Covered by the wage order are domestic workers, whether on a live-in or live-out arrangements, such as but not limited to general househelp, yaya, cook, gardener, laundry person or any person who regularly performs domestic work in one household on an occupational basis.

On the other hand, service providers, family drivers, children under foster family arrangements and persons, who perform work occasionally or sporadically and not on an occupational basis, are excluded.

Ilocos Region is composed of the provinces of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, and Pangasinan; and cities of Laoag, Batac, Vigan, Candon, San Fernando, Urdaneta, Dagupan, San Carlos, and Alaminos. (HDT/Sunnex)